China Lake back at full operation after microburst storm

Following a Tuesday power outage caused by a strong microburst storm, Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake was up operating and open for business Wednesday.

Comment

By Jack BarnwellSTAFF WRITERjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack BarnwellSTAFF WRITERjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jul. 4, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Updated Jul 4, 2013 at 10:27 AM

By Jack BarnwellSTAFF WRITERjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jul. 4, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Updated Jul 4, 2013 at 10:27 AM

Following a Tuesday power outage caused by a strong microburst storm, Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake was up operating and open for business Wednesday.

According to Peggy Shoaf, NAWS China Lake public affairs officer, power was restored early Wednesday morning. She added that China Lake's Public Works crews had to reset substations around the base.

Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, a powerful storm hit the Indian Wells Valley, toppling trees and power lines in Ridgecrest and Inyokern, causing damage to businesses and cutting power to the military base. Winds reached 60 mph gusts and lasted for approximately 15 minutes, according to the National Weather Service.

According to Shoaf during a Tuesday call, one of the downed power lines on Inyokern Road caused the base to lose power to certain areas.

Southern California Edison in a Tuesday news release said that more than 2,000 households were affected by the storm-related power outages, and had to call in additional crews from other service areas to help repair damage.

“The total damage is still being totaled,” Shoaf said. She added that the known damage was sustained to signage and temporary fences.

“A tree did fall on a set of communication and power lines,” Shoaf said. “The biggest impact the power had on the base was that we had a person trapped in an elevator for some time.”

China Lake closed its Richmond and Sandquist gates Tuesday, while the Lauritsen and the Main gates remained open.

Shoaf said that Sierra Sands Unified School District had graciously offered Pierce Elementary as a safe haven for a few hours, but had to close down early when no one took advantage of it.

Many of the local hotels offered discounts for military personnel and military families residing in base housing, Shoaf said.

“Some just stuck it out in the housing until the power came back,” Shoaf said.

One of the largest impacts was the likely spoilage of food in base housing.

Shoaf said that the food bank at the All Faiths Chapel was available for base personnel impacted by the power outage.

“People can also donate food to the All Faiths Chapel food bank as well,” Shoaf said.